Maverick County Reports Deadliest Month in August 2020 with 54 Deaths Due to COVID-19 and 1,346 New Confirmed Positive Cases, Bringing Cumulative Total to 93 Deaths and 3,335 Cases
By: Ricardo E. Calderon, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2020
Maverick County, Texas reported a record month in August 2020 with the total number of deaths from COVID-19 with 54 and 1,346 new confirmed positive COVID-19 cases, bringing the cumulative total to 93 deaths and 3,335 cases, according to the COVID-19 statistics reported by the Eagle Pass and Maverick County Emergency Operations Center.
On August 29, 2020, the New York Times ranked the City of Eagle Pass, Texas in a published article as the No. 1 metro area in the United States for the greatest number of new COVID-19 cases relative to its population during the last two weeks with a rate of 11.3 new confirmed positive cases per 1,000 population and the No. 1 metro area in the United States where COVID-19 cases are rising the fastest on a population-adjusted basis with an increase 1,127 percent change from the previous week. In a third category, the City of Eagle Pass was ranked No. 4 in the United States for the metro area that have had the highest cumulative cases per 1,000 population since the COVID-19 Outbreak started with a total of 55.5 cases per 1,000 population. Three historic records scored by the City of Eagle Pass and Maverick County, Texas in the New York Times Coronavirus Study in the United States.
On Monday, August 31, 2020, Eagle Pass Mayor Luis E. Sifuentes reported the COVID-19 results for the weekend of August 28-31 as being a total of 15,595 people in Maverick County having had a COVID-19 test administered with 3,335 positive results, an increase of 42 new cases from August 28, 12,031 negative results, 2,793 recovered patients, 449 active cases, 93 deaths from COVID-19, an increase of six from August 28, 229 pending test results, 30 current hospitalized patients, and the positivity rate high at 21.7 percent. Mayor Sifuentes noted that the total of six new deaths and 42 new confirmed positive cases were for three and one-half days, but failed to discuss or mention the stunning New York Times article ranking Eagle Pass as No. 1 in the United States in his report.
During the latter part of August 2020, the City of Eagle Pass and Maverick County and local health care providers have decreased the total number of people being tested for COVID-19 despite there being a great need to increase testing within the community.
Pending to be tested within the community according to statements made by public officials in the past are over 2,000 home health providers working in Maverick County, who have seen an increase of new confirmed positive cases, over 175 jail inmates at the Maverick County Tom Bowles Detention Center, one inmate tested positive on July 29 and at least three or more jailers have tested positive, all of the residents and staff members of the three nursing home and rehabilitation centers, all of the clients and staff members of several adult day care centers, all of the clients and staff of local adult nutrition centers, all of the children and staff members of local child care centers, and all of the children, teachers, and staff members of the local private and public schools.
COVID-19 testing in Eagle Pass and Maverick County has decreased like in other cities and states as state and federal agencies or entities have changed rules and guidelines concerning testing as the November 3, 2020 Presidential and General Election nears, raising anomalies and concerns regarding the lack of testing when demand for it is the greatest. The less testing done, the less number of test results reported to the public.
Although recently new confirmed positive COVID-19 cases has decreased in Maverick County, the record number of deaths from COVID-19 in August 2020 and the high positivity rate of 21.7 percent are clear public health indicators that transmission of the deadly virus continues to spread within the community.
Other cities and counties hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic have implemented aggressive testing programs for their citizens such as the Cities of Del Rio, Laredo, El Paso, McAllen, Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Houston, Austin, Dallas, and many others. Many of these cities’ testing programs offer their citizens free of cost tests and to any citizen wishing to have a test done regardless if they have or do not have any COVID-19 symptoms, particularly now as the new school year is opening in their communities.
Eagle Pass and Maverick County should continue with an aggressive testing program in the community and utilize the monies from the CARES Act to pay for it or seek additional funds from state and federal government to fund it. Now is not the time to decrease testing as the need to continue testing is the greatest as the COVID-19 pandemic remains unabated in Maverick County and the new school year just started on August 31.
